Glazing method

ABSTRACT

A method of glazing an opening in a wall structure such as an interior wall in an office building, in which a glazing frame is fitted around a glass panel and the panel and frame are inserted into the opening. Clips are installed within the opening and engage the frame so as to prevent displacement of the frame outwardly of the opening. A trim frame is then installed from the opposite side of the opening and is retained by and conceals the clips. The trim frame provides a symmetrical smooth exterior surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of glazing a framed opening in a wall structure, for example an interior wall in an office building, and to a wall structure including a glazed opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been devised in the context of interior wall systems for buildings, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,396 (Marangoni et al.). This patent discloses a wall system that includes an internal frame made up of vertical posts and horizontal rails extending between the posts. The frame is clad with fascia elements that may take various forms, including glazed panels. For example, in a situation in which, say, one wall of an internal office is required to be transparent, the frame may be clad using a series of glazed panels as the fascia elements.

Typically, the frame carries fascia elements on both of its inner and outer faces, i.e. the face is clad from both sides so that a finished surface is provided both inside and out. In the case of a glazed fascia, this means that there will be two glazed panels separated, essentially, by the thickness of the frame.

In many applications, the use of two glazed panels represents an unnecessary cost and increases installation time. However, simply leaving out one glazed panel may not always represent an acceptable solution in terms of aesthetics and/or structural integrity of the wall system. For example, having only one glazed panel at the outer side of the wall represents a significant unbalanced load on the frame of the wall structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of glazing a framed opening in a wall, and a corresponding wall structure which is particularly (though not necessarily) suited to a single glazed application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of glazing an opening in a wall structure which is defined by frame members of the structure, each having inner and outer lateral faces at opposite sides of the structure and a transverse face that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the plane of the opening, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a glazing panel sized to fit within the opening;     -   installing on said panel a glazing frame;     -   inserting the frame and panel into said opening in the wall         structure from a first side thereof, the glazing frame         surrounding the glazing panel and having a general L-shaped         configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb that         overlies said flat transverse faces of the wall members and a         minor limb that abuts said lateral faces at said first side of         the wall structure, said major limb including a channel         receiving a marginal portion of the glazing panel;     -   installing a plurality of clips for retaining the glazing panel         against displacement out of said opening, said clips engaging         said glazing frame at a side of the channel opposite to said         minor limb and being received in corresponding openings in said         wall members; and,     -   installing in said opening from a side opposite said first side,         a trim frame which is retained in the opening and covers said         clips so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall         structure.

The invention also provides a wall structure having at least one opening glazed in accordance with the method of the invention.

As noted previously, the invention is particularly suited to applications in which only a single glazing panel is used. Preferably, the glazing frame is then designed so that the channel that receives the marginal portion of the glazing panel is disposed generally in the median plane of the opening when the glazing frame has been installed. In other words, the glazing panel will be disposed midway between the inner and outer faces of the wall structure. The load represented by the panel then will be supported in a balanced fashion. Preferably, the channel in the glazing frame receives a glazing bead that provides a seal between the glazing panel and the channel in the glazing frame.

Even though the invention has been designed primarily in the context of single glazed openings, it is of course possible that two channels might be provided in the glazing frame for receiving a corresponding pair of glazing panels where a double glazed solution is required. Ideally, the two channels will then be disposed symmetrically about the median plane of the opening in order to properly distribute the load represented by the two panels.

In most applications, the opening in the wall structure will be rectangular, of course requiring that the glazing panel, glazing frame and trim frame will also be rectangular. Typically each of the glazing frame and trim frame will then be formed from four straight frame members mitered at the corners of the panel to form the complete frame. The frame members of each of the glazing frame and trim frame may be aluminum extrusions. It goes without saying that the extrusions will be contoured to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance at both sides of the glazing panel. The extrusions may of course be appropriately coloured and/or textured according to requirements of the application in which the extrusions are to be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a wall structure in accordance with the invention, illustrating installation of a glazing panel;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of FIG. 1 in more detail;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the components of FIG. 2 assembled;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing steps in the assembly method; and,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating assembly of corner regions of the glazing frame and trim frame.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows part of a wall structure of the general type disclosed in the Marangoni et al. '396 patent supra, to which reference may be made for the specifics of the wall structure and its assembly. The disclosure of the '396 patent is incorporated herein by reference.

For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that the wall structure includes a frame 20 having an opening 22 to be glazed, and that the opening is defined by a pair of horizontally spaced upright posts 24 and a pair of vertically spaced horizontal rails 26 that extend between the posts. The posts 24 and the rails 26 are essentially box section metal fabrications. The lower one of the rails 26 is shown in section in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and has inner and outer lateral faces 28 and 30 at opposite sides of the wall and a transverse face 32 that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the median plane P of the opening.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a glazing panel is shown at 34 fitted with a glazing frame 36 that is dimensioned to fit within opening 22 and intended to be installed from the far side of the wall as shown in FIG. 1. A trim frame intended to be received in the opening from the opposite side of the wall is shown at 38. Each of the frames 36, 38 is assembled from four straight frame members. The frame members for frame 36 are individually denoted 40 while the frame members for trim frame 38 are individually denoted 42. The respective frame members are shown separately in FIG. 2. Each member is an aluminum extrusion that has a special profile shape including a smoothly contoured top surface for providing a “clean” and aesthetically pleasing appearance within the frames in the assembled wall structure. As best seen in FIG. 3, extrusion 40 of glazing frame 36 has a smoothly contoured top surface 44, while the corresponding surface for extrusion 42 is denoted 46.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the members of each frame 36, 38 are assembled at the corners of the respective frames. Confronting surfaces of the frame members are mitered where they meet at the corners of the frame and the frame members are joined together by angle brackets which push-fit into specially designed areas of the respective extrusions. Two angle brackets for joining the corners of the frame members 40 to form glazing frame 36 are shown at 48 and 50 in FIG. 6, while corresponding angle brackets for joining the corners of the trim frame 42 are shown at 52 and 54 respectively.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the glazing frame member 40 has a generally L-shaped configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb 56 and a minor limb 58. In the assembled wall structure, the major limb 56 overlies the flat transverse face 32 of rail 26 while the minor limb 58 abuts the lateral face 30 of rail 26, in this case with the intermediary of a strip of acoustical tape 60 intended to reduce noise transmission through the wall.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the major limb 56 of glazing frame member 40 incorporates a channel 62 that receives the glazing panel 34. More specifically, the four frame members 40 that make up the glazing frame 36 extend along respective edges of the glazing panel 34 and receive respective marginal portions of that panel. Those marginal portions are sealed within channel 62 by the intermediary of a clear PVC glazing bead 64.

To install the glazing panel 34 in opening 22, the glazing frame 36 is first assembled to the glazing panel with marginal portions of the panel received in respective channels 62 in the frame members 40 as discussed previously. At this stage, the glazing panel and glazing frame assembly appears as shown in FIG. 1. That assembly is then inserted into the opening 22 from the far side as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows the lower frame member 40 at this time. In order to retain the assembly against lateral displacement out of the opening 22, a series of clips are engaged with the glazing frame at a side of the channel 62 remote from the minor limb 58 of frame member 40.

FIG. 4 shows a typical one of the clips in cross-section at 66, while FIG. 2 shows the clip in perspective. In this embodiment, the clip is a moulded nylon component comprising an upper portion 68 having the profile shape shown in FIG. 4, and a series of three pins 70 that project downwardly from the upper portion at positions spaced along the length of the clip. These pins are push-fitted into openings in the frame members of the wall structure such as rail 26. One of the openings for receiving the pins is shown at 72 in FIG. 4, but it can be seen from FIG. 2 that each of the frame members is provided with a series of such openings so that clips can be positioned almost anywhere along the relevant frame member. Similar series of openings are provided in all four of the frame members that define the opening 22. As best shown in FIG. 1, in the case of a typical rectangular glazing panel having a height greater than its width, three clips 66 will typically be used along the upright posts 24, and two along the horizontal rails 26.

The upper portion of clip 66 is shaped to define respective hook-shaped portions 74 and 76 at opposite sides of the clip. The extrusion that forms glazing member 40 is shaped to define a corresponding lip 78 over which the hook-shaped formation 74 engages when the clip is installed as shown in FIG. 5. This effectively prevents lateral displacement of the glazing frame 36 and glazing panel 34 leftwards in FIG. 5.

The other formation 76 of clip 66 is shaped to engage with a corresponding rib on a lateral flange 80 of the extrusion that forms the trim frame member 42. Thus, after the glazing frame 36 and panel 34 have been positioned within the opening 22 and the clips 66 have been installed as shown in FIG. 5. The trim frame 42 (FIG. 1) is installed in opening 22 from the opposite side as compared with glazing frame 36. During this step, the rib 80 within trim frame member 42 moves into engagement with the formation 76 of clips 66, effectively locking the trim frame in place. As best seen in FIG. 3, the trim frame covers the clips 66 so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall structure.

It will of course be understood that the preceding description relates to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention only and that many modifications are possible. Of course, the precise shapes of the extrusions shown in the drawings are not critical and may vary. Also, as noted above, it may be required in some applications to provide two similar channels 62 to receive two glazed panels. The glazed panels may be glass or plastic (e.g. laminated), frosted, clear, translucent or finished in any other appropriate style. 

1. A method of glazing an opening in a wall structure which is defined by frame members of the structure, each having inner and outer lateral faces at opposite sides of the structure and a transverse face that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the plane of the opening, the method comprising the steps of: providing a glazing panel sized to fit within the opening; installing a glazing frame on said panel; inserting the glazing frame and panel into said opening in the wall structure from a first side thereof, the glazing frame surrounding the glazing panel and having a general L-shaped configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb that overlies said flat transverse faces of the wall members and a minor limb that abuts said lateral faces at said first side of the wall structure, said major limb including a channel receiving a marginal portion of the glazing panel; installing a plurality of clips for retaining the glazing panel against displacement out of said opening, said clips engaging said glazing frame at a side of the channel opposite to said minor limb and being received in corresponding openings in said wall members; and, installing in said opening from a side opposite said first side, a trim frame which is retained in the opening and covers said clips so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall structure.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of installing a glazing frame on said glazing panel comprises providing a plurality of aluminum extrusions for forming individual frame members of said frame and installing said extrusions along respective marginal portions of the glazing panel to form said frame, the extrusions being assembled end-to-end at respective corners of the panel.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said extrusions are joined together at corners of the frame using angle brackets that are received within the extrusions.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trim frame comprises a plurality of aluminum extrusions joined together at corners of the frame.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said extrusions are joined together at corners of the frame using angle brackets that are received within the extrusions.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel receiving a marginal portion of the glazing panel is located on said major limb so as to be disposed generally on a median plane of said opening when the glazing frame is installed in said opening.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel receives a glazing bead providing a seal between said glazing panel and said glazing frame.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said clip is shaped to provide respective shaped formations at opposite sides of the clip, and wherein each of said glazing frame and said trim frame comprises an assembly of respective extrusions shaped to engage with the respective hook-shaped formations of the clip, so that said clips both engage said glazing panel for retaining the glazing panel within the opening, and are engaged by said trim frame for retaining the trim within the opening.
 9. A wall structure having at least one opening which is glazed, wherein the opening is defined by frame members of the wall structure, each of which has inner and outer lateral faces at opposite sides of the wall, and a transverse face that extends between the lateral faces generally normal to the plane of the opening, and wherein glazing of the opening is provided by: a glazing panel sized to fit within the opening; a glazing frame received in the opening from a first side thereof and surrounding said glazing panel, said glazing frame having a generally L-shaped configuration in cross-section defined by a major limb that overlies said flat transverse faces of the wall members, and a minor limb that abuts said lateral faces at said first side of the wall structure, said major limb including a channel receiving a marginal portion of said glazing panel; a plurality of clips each engaged with said glazing frame at a side of said channel opposite to said minor limb and being received in an opening in the relevant wall member, said clips retaining the glazing frame against displacement out of said opening; and, a trim frame received in said opening from a side opposite said first side, said trim frame being retained in said opening and covering said clips so that they are concealed from view in the assembled wall structure.
 10. A wall structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said glazing frame comprises a plurality of aluminum extrusions forming individual frame members of said frame and installed along respective marginal portions of the glazing panel to form said frame, the extrusions being assembled end-to-end at respective corners of the panel.
 11. A wall structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said extrusions are joined together at corners of the frame using angle brackets that are received within the extrusions.
 12. A wall structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said trim frame comprises a plurality of aluminum extrusions joined together at corners of the frame.
 13. A wall structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein said extrusions are joined together at corners of the frame using angle brackets that are received within the extrusions.
 14. A wall structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said channel receiving a marginal portion of the glazing panel is located on said major limb so as to be disposed generally on a median plane of said opening.
 15. A wall structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said channel receives a glazing bead providing a seal between said glazing panel and said glazing frame.
 16. A wall structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said clip is shaped to provide respective shaped formations at opposite sides of the clip, and wherein each of said glazing frame and said trim frame comprises an assembly of respective extrusions shaped to engage with the respective hook-shaped formations of the clip, so that said clips both engage said glazing panel for retaining the glazing panel within the opening, and are engaged by said trim frame for retaining the trim within the opening. 